October 17, 2006

Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE EMR), makers of garbage disposal, is suing NBC for a scene in Heroesin which a cheerleader's handle is mangled by its product.

Apparently, the first episode of "Heroes" shows one of the characters, a cheerleader who is blessed with the power of indestructibility (must come in handy when being at the top of those human pyramids), sticking her hand into a garbage disposal and getting it all mangled. A few seconds later her hand heals.

"Heroes" has been one of the biggest hits of the new TV season and has helped boost ratings at NBC. What's the big deal? The brand name of the machine in question is visible in the scene. It's called the InSinkErator. (Sounds like a bad Schwarzenegger movie. "Hasta la vista, gah-bage. Foooood. I'll be back...to chop you.")